The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
I grew up in Zimbabwe, and when I was 10 years old started boarding school. I found moving between the boarding hostel and home unsettling, and for many years struggled with the concept of home. Wherever I lived, I wanted to (or thought I should) be living somewhere else. I lived in Zimbabwe, South Africa, England and Australia and spent time travelling in other countries, but never felt settled and this really bothered me.
In 1985 I moved to Australia and in 1992 was posted by the Australian Government to Zimbabwe. At the end of my posting, I was strongly drawn to living in South Africa where I had strong family ties and had studied and worked for a few years.
When I moved to South Africa, I thought I had found my place. But, after about ten years when things weren’t working out because it was difficult to find employment, the restless feelings that I should be living somewhere else returned. I started praying to know that home is not a material location or physical structure, but a state of mind in which we are at one with God – at home and in our right place all the time wherever we are. As Paul says, “For in him, we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17: 28).
Browsing in my local Christian Science Reading Room one day, I came across a pamphlet called PLACE. It has four lovely articles from past Christian Science Sentinels and Journals around being in our right place, home and employment – drawing from the Bible, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, and her other writings. They were all really helpful.
Then one evening while out walking my dogs, the idea came clearly that I should apply for jobs outside South Africa. Over the next few weeks I applied for jobs in Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand and Australia. I was offered three interviews, and then positions in the Middle East and Australia. I prayed to know which to accept, and it came to me clearly to accept the job in Australia. As with all these kinds of decisions – when it is right, there is an incredible and indescribable feeling of peace.
A few months later when I landed back in Australia, I felt I had returned home. That feeling of being at HOME and in my right place has never left me since then. I have had no feelings of restlessness or that I should be living somewhere else.
I am very grateful for being led through Christian Science to an improved understanding of HOME and for the lovely way this has been manifested in my experience.
This recording is of readings on the topic: God is Love – Can We Ask for More?
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God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (The Bible – I John 5: 16)
“God is Love”. More than this we cannot ask, higher we cannot look, farther we cannot go. (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p6: 17-18)
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (The Bible – I John 4: 11)
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Every Wednesday at 6.15pm a Testimony Meeting is held at the Christian Science church in Canberra (corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets, Barton). At these meetings short readings on a particular topic are followed by time for members of the congregation to share how they have been helped and healed through prayer.
This recording is of readings on the topic: God – An Ever Present Help in Trouble
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Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from they presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
(The Bible – Psalms 139: 7, 8,11)
Every Wednesday at 6.15pm a Testimony Meeting is held at the Christian Science church in Canberra (corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets, Barton). At these meetings short readings on a particular topic are followed by time for members of the congregation to share how they have been helped and healed through prayer.
From the pandemic to political division to climate disasters, today’s news begs the question “Where is God when bad things happen?” And if God is here, why doesn’t it seem to make a difference?
This podcast series investigates different aspects of this large question. Each of the speakers shares a different view of God that can help you find your own peace and experience the kind of stability we all want these days.
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Here are the links to the four sessions in this series:
The members of the Christian Science community in Canberra share their experiences and thoughts on Christian Science:
Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. (The Bible -Psalm 119: 117)
Today in casual conversation with a friend the subject of cars came up. We were exchanging stories about how we came to have our present vehicles, and what previous cars we had. We discovered that we had in the past the same make of car which we really enjoyed because it was a road hugging car in which we felt very safe. I related that my car previous to this one had been written off with me driving and how I had been protected through this experience.
I would like to share my story with a heart full of gratitude to God, good, that I was not hurt, but walked away from the scene totally unscathed. The country road that I was travelling on was very well known to me as I used it daily travelling to work and home again and at weekends when I went out.
I was living rurally at the time in a hilly area and the road was winding down towards the township. There had been a lot of rain overnight which had caused a pothole to form in the road and I did not see the hole as I came around the bend. One wheel of the car hit the edge of the pothole which caused the car to spin. I found myself unable to right the car as it spun to the other side of the road facing the opposite direction and over on its side.
As the car was flying through the air, with anything loose in the car flying about as well, I heard myself shouting out, “God is my life, God is my life, I cannot be separated from God, my life.” When all the spinning was over I was able to climb out of a door and proceeded to walk home which was probably about a couple of miles away. Even this was taken care of, as at that time a neighbouring farmer and his wife came driving up the road and took me home.
My husband and I had then to do the calling of the police and arrange to get the car back on the road. I had been on my way to church at the time where I had a duty to perform. After ringing to make my apologies I decided that I may as well bake a cake which I had intended to do when I got home from church anyway.
There were no after-effects from this experience. In fact it did not occur to me that there could be until the next day at my place of work someone commented that at least I should have had a headache as the result of the incident. The protection was complete as I turned to the presence of my Father-Mother God as the source of my life. My subsequent car was the road hugger which I enjoyed driving for a good number of years.
All power unto our God is given, on Him we place reliance. (Hymn 10 – Christian Science Hymnal)
Every Wednesday at 6.15 pm a Testimony Meeting is held at the Christian Science church in Barton (corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets). At these meetings short readings are followed by time for members of the congregation to share how they have been helped and healed through prayer.
Everyone is welcome. If you are in Canberra on any Wednesday, please join us.
The topic for the readings this week was: To Be Satisfied.
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (The Bible – Isaiah 58: 11)
This recording is of the readings on this topic of To Be Satisfied.
This recording is of the readings on the topic: My Shepherd is Beside Me, and Nothing Can I Lack, which formed part of the Testimony Meeting in Canberra. Citations were taken from the Bible (King James Version) and the textbook of Christian Science, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
The title of readings is taken from a line in hymn 148 from the Christian Science Hymnal:
Wherever He may guide me, / No want shall turn me back; / My Shepherd is beside me, / And nothing can I lack. / His wisdom ever waketh, / His sight is never dim; / He knows the way He taketh, / And I will walk with Him. / …
Bright skies will soon be o’er me, / Where darkest clouds have been. … / My Father has my treasure, / And He will walk with me.
If you are in Canberra on any Wednesday please join us at 6.15 pm – our Testimony Meetings are open to everyone. We are located on the corner of Macquarie and Bligh Streets, Barton in the ACT.
The Christian Science Church – a part of the Canberra community. Members share testimonies and talk about their lives as Christian Scientists.
This article, Lost Phone Found, is by a member of the Christian Science Church in Canberra. In it the writer tells how her prayers calmed her fears and led to the recovery of the phone.
Last year my sister and I had the opportunity to spend a few days in a game reserve in South Africa. It was a wonderful experience and we took advantage of the early morning and late afternoon game viewing safaris that were offered. Between us we took many, many photos of the beautiful scenery and magnificent animals.
My sister was taking photos on her iPhone and I was using my camera. On our last trip out, at our half-way stop my sister realised that her phone was missing. We had been sitting in the very back seat which projected out over the end of the open safari vehicle. The tracks were very bumpy and we guessed that at some point her phone must have bounced out of her pocket and fallen onto the road. We thought back to the last time she remembered using it; she had taken pictures of buffaloes about 20 minutes back.
Our guide was wonderful and offered to return to the buffaloes in the hope of finding it. Each of the seven passengers on the trip hung out of the vehicle watching on all sides as we slowly retraced our steps. At first my sister seemed quite subdued. Apart from her photos, the phone contained all her work contacts and other valued information.
My sister and I were brought up in a Christian Science family and it was natural for us to turn to God in prayer when situations like this occurred. I knew she was praying. In my prayer I claimed that God, who I know as infinite Mind, knew all things and that nothing could be lost to infinite Mind. At first I found it difficult to get over the sense of disappointment for my sister. I didn’t like to see her sad. But then I realized that this was not about a phone or about my sister; it was about what I trusted. Did I really believe that God was good and that we were safe in His care? Did I really believe that God was the only Mind, the only power? Did I really believe that God was love? I have had so many healings and demonstrations of these truths that I absolutely had to say: Yes! I do believe! As I came to this realization all sense of unrest left me and I felt totally comfortable in His love and care. At the same time my sister said: “It’s only a phone, you know. I can easily get another one” and she seemed relaxed and happy again.
Despite everyone’s concentrated efforts scrutinising the track we travelled all the way back to the buffaloes without finding the phone. It was now late in the afternoon; the light was dimming and our guide said it was time to head back. Still the comfortable feeling that all was well didn’t leave me, and my sister continued to be happy and relaxed. I knew she was feeling the same. About ten or twelve minutes down the track the young man at the very front of the vehicle called out for the driver to stop. He jumped out and picked up the phone. This was the very spot on the track where I had decided to trust and where my sister, through her prayers, had been released from all sense of loss. We had actually driven over the phone but there was not a mark on it – it was perfect.
Situations like this teach me that it is safe to trust in God’s love. I am reminded of Jesus’ statement: Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8: 32). The truth is that God is love (I John 4: 8). This is a law that can be relied upon.
To read more testimonies of healing shared by members of the Christian Science Church in Canberra click on the archive headings on the left for May, June and October 2016.
The Christian Science Church – a part of the Canberra community. Members share testimonies and talk about their lives as Christian Scientists.
This article, ‘Safe in God’s Care’, is by a member of the Christian Science Church in Canberra. In it the writer tells of protection from injury and a harmonious outcome after her car ran off the road.
God’s love and care are available to all mankind as man is God’s own child, whether that is accepted or not. As a Christian I study the Bible, and as a Christian Scientist I also study the textbook of Christian Science, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mary Baker Eddy, both on a daily basis.
Mankind have daily proofs of God’s care in many ways. Sometimes these proofs come as beautiful angel messages, or perhaps guidance to do or act differently. Other times they can be life-saving experiences.
Some years ago, I had a great need to reach out to God as I lost control of the car I was driving, and found myself spinning across the road with any loose items from my car flying round about me.
The road I was travelling on was very familiar to me – a curving slope in a rural area. Rain had caused a pot hole, which I did not see, to develop in the bitumen, and when the tyre of the car hit the hole the car spun around, rolled over and came to rest on the other side of the road facing in a different direction. The spinning probably only lasted moments, but in that time I remembered turning to God and shouting out, “God is my life”. I am not really sure if I shouted out verbally or in my thinking, but I do know that I was very vehement.
When the vehicle came to rest I was able to open the passengers door and climb out, entirely free from any damage or injury. The next car that came along was driven by some neighbours and they were able to take me home.
I continued to pray by affirming passages from Science and Health. One was about accidents and says, “Under divine Providence there can be no accidents, since there is no room for imperfection in perfection” (p 424: 9); and on page 207: 20 “There is but one primal cause, therefore there can be no effect from any other cause, and there can be no reality in aught which does not proceed from this great and only cause.”
There were no symptoms of shock or any other after effects, even though the car was written off by the insurance company.
How grateful I am to be able to share this experience and to give all glory to God.
To read more testimonies of healing shared by members of the Christian Science Church in Canberra click on the archive headings on the left for May, June and October 2016.
(Photo: Christian Science Church, Canberra from the air)
This recording is of the readings on the topic: My Shepherd is Beside Me, and Nothing Can I Lack, which formed part of the Testimony Meeting in Canberra. Citations were taken from the Bible (King James Version) and the textbook of Christian Science, 
The Christian Science Church – a part of the Canberra community. Members share testimonies and talk about their lives as Christian Scientists. 
The Christian Science Church – a part of the Canberra community. Members share testimonies and talk about their lives as Christian Scientists. 
Christian Science Canberra 